Alaska Railroad Special Agent Badges

Here are some badge photos that I hope that you can use.  Each photo is labeled.  I have good photos of some and not-so-good ones of others.  To the best of my knowledge, the current issue badge is the one with the walking bear.  I have seen around five of these, each with different numbers from #1-6 plus the chief special agent version.  Some badges are hallmarked by the maker and some are not and if I know the hallmark, it's listed.  The most valuable badge is the sterling silver one with the copper numeral 1 in the center.  I recall that it sold for over $1000 a few years ago and I believe that it was made by Irvine & Jachens of San Francisco, a long-time high-quality badge maker and jeweler.

You will see that some are labeled as fakes and some as having unknown provenance.  The most common ARR badge fake is the nickel seven-point one with the Alaska center seal with the red ring around it.  This was the product of a well-known guy who sold these and similar railroad badges for $25 each back in the late 1970's.  To the uninitiated, this badge often brings a hefty price.  

Hiring for ARR special agents is processed through Human Resources of the State of Alaska and, as I mentioned, the last I knew, there were about half a dozen working the railroad.  

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Alaska Agent wallet clip no HM likely fake Alaska Railroad Chief Special Agent Blackinton HM Alaska Railroad Chief Special Agent Entenmann-Rovin HM possibly 1970's-1980's
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Alaska RR 3 Blackinton HM Alaska RR 40s-50s Salt Lake Stamp Co HM Alaska RR fake from 1970's
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Alaska RR Spl Agent 2 Blackinton HM Alaska RR Spl Agent current patch Alaska SA 1.5 inch unknown provenance no HM
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ARR Detective no HM thought to be 1950's-1960's ARR Spl Agent current issue badge patch ARR Spl Agent past issue shoulder patch
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ARR Spl Agent unknown if real Early 1920's sterling silver Chief Special Agent Badge Alaska Railroad Police  

 

Page created 1/2/15 and last updated 1/2/15
© 2015 John Combs unless otherwise noted

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